A light-hearted yet complex and emotionally thought-provoking series, Teen Titans follows the adventures of Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven; a group of five teenage superheroes who work together to fight crime and save the universe. The series is five seasons long, and each season has a different plot line that centers around one specific Titan (with the exception of Starfire, which is a shame since she's such an interesting and beautifully written character).
While the overall tone of some episodes can be serious and some-what dark, there are a lot of silly moments and filler episodes scattered throughout the series that add a refreshing amount of humor to balance out the drama. The show also does an excellent job at covering adult topics (such as racism, abuse, PTSD, death, etc.) in a way that's appropriate for children. Although almost every episode teaches an important lesson, it's done so in a way that's very nuanced and not overshadowing to the main plot.
The fight sequences are exciting and fun to watch, and each Titan is always given a moment to showcase their own abilities. We see each of their strengths, weaknesses, and their difference in fighting techniques, and we are shown that although the Titans are the most formidable when they work together as a team, they're also more than capable of individually holding their own in a fight. This helps the audience get a sense of who each of the characters are individually.
Speaking of the characters, Teen Titans already has so many amazing qualities, but what really makes the show so great are the Titans themselves. All five of the main characters have deeply fleshed out, interesting and diverse personalities. They each have their own specific quirks, backgrounds, and speech patterns, and although they do have they're own archetypes, they aren't written in a way that feels cliche or stereotypical. Instead, the characters are complex and multidimensional individuals that the audience can relate to. They aren't perfect heroes; sometimes they argue, get angry with each other, and make morally grey decisions. They feel real, which is such a refreshing change from the one-dimensional character tropes most superheroes tend to fall under.
Even though these characters are so different from one another, they have a dynamic that works extremely well together. They make jokes, they fight, and they interact in a way that's an enjoyable and realistic depiction of how best friends act. Whether they're looking out for each other in battle, going out for pizza or having a scary movie night, it's clear that these characters really care about each other, and I'd say that their tight-knit friendship is the heart of the show. They're not just teammates; they're five best friends who love and trust each other completely, and it's incredibly heartwarming to watch their bond grow stronger throughout the series.
Robin and Starfire's romance is especially beautiful, and watching their relationship develop from friends into something more is easily one of the highlights of the series. It's adorably sweet, gentle, and pure, and it's the type of love that you can't help but root for.
There are some pretty great villains, too. The main villains of the series - Slade, Blackfire, Brother Blood, Trigon, and the Brotherhood of Evil- make very interesting and formidable opponents, and it's fascinating to see how they contrast with the Titans.
The voice acting is top-notch. From the villains, the side characters, to the main cast themselves, all of the actors did a magnificent job of embodying the complexities of their characters and bringing them to life in a way that is special and unique. However, I really have to give Scott Menville, Greg Cipes, Tara Strong, Khary Payton, and Hynden Walch a special shout out, they were absolutely fantastic.
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest cartoons of all time. The animation is great, there's a perfect blend of action, drama and comedy, the characters all have beautiful chemistry and are wonderfully written and fleshed out, and the voice acting is spectacular.
All in all, this is a really marvelous series that both children and adults can enjoy. Even almost 20 years after it first aired, it still holds up to it's legacy and it continues to be a favorite of mine to this day. If you haven't watched Teen Titans already, I highly suggest you do so now. You won't regret it.
While the overall tone of some episodes can be serious and some-what dark, there are a lot of silly moments and filler episodes scattered throughout the series that add a refreshing amount of humor to balance out the drama. The show also does an excellent job at covering adult topics (such as racism, abuse, PTSD, death, etc.) in a way that's appropriate for children. Although almost every episode teaches an important lesson, it's done so in a way that's very nuanced and not overshadowing to the main plot.
The fight sequences are exciting and fun to watch, and each Titan is always given a moment to showcase their own abilities. We see each of their strengths, weaknesses, and their difference in fighting techniques, and we are shown that although the Titans are the most formidable when they work together as a team, they're also more than capable of individually holding their own in a fight. This helps the audience get a sense of who each of the characters are individually.
Speaking of the characters, Teen Titans already has so many amazing qualities, but what really makes the show so great are the Titans themselves. All five of the main characters have deeply fleshed out, interesting and diverse personalities. They each have their own specific quirks, backgrounds, and speech patterns, and although they do have they're own archetypes, they aren't written in a way that feels cliche or stereotypical. Instead, the characters are complex and multidimensional individuals that the audience can relate to. They aren't perfect heroes; sometimes they argue, get angry with each other, and make morally grey decisions. They feel real, which is such a refreshing change from the one-dimensional character tropes most superheroes tend to fall under.
Even though these characters are so different from one another, they have a dynamic that works extremely well together. They make jokes, they fight, and they interact in a way that's an enjoyable and realistic depiction of how best friends act. Whether they're looking out for each other in battle, going out for pizza or having a scary movie night, it's clear that these characters really care about each other, and I'd say that their tight-knit friendship is the heart of the show. They're not just teammates; they're five best friends who love and trust each other completely, and it's incredibly heartwarming to watch their bond grow stronger throughout the series.
Robin and Starfire's romance is especially beautiful, and watching their relationship develop from friends into something more is easily one of the highlights of the series. It's adorably sweet, gentle, and pure, and it's the type of love that you can't help but root for.
There are some pretty great villains, too. The main villains of the series - Slade, Blackfire, Brother Blood, Trigon, and the Brotherhood of Evil- make very interesting and formidable opponents, and it's fascinating to see how they contrast with the Titans.
The voice acting is top-notch. From the villains, the side characters, to the main cast themselves, all of the actors did a magnificent job of embodying the complexities of their characters and bringing them to life in a way that is special and unique. However, I really have to give Scott Menville, Greg Cipes, Tara Strong, Khary Payton, and Hynden Walch a special shout out, they were absolutely fantastic.
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest cartoons of all time. The animation is great, there's a perfect blend of action, drama and comedy, the characters all have beautiful chemistry and are wonderfully written and fleshed out, and the voice acting is spectacular.
All in all, this is a really marvelous series that both children and adults can enjoy. Even almost 20 years after it first aired, it still holds up to it's legacy and it continues to be a favorite of mine to this day. If you haven't watched Teen Titans already, I highly suggest you do so now. You won't regret it.